Buchanan calls Canada a 'freeloading nation'
[quote] Canada is a "whining" country that has been "freeloading" off the U.S. defence budget for decades, outspoken American talk-show host Pat Buchanan said Friday.
The latest attack to come from the failed Republican presidential candidate followed his televised comment that Canada is a "Soviet Canuckistan" because Canadian officials objected to a U.S. law demanding photos and fingerprints from Arab-Canadian visitors to the country.
Meanwhile, noted Indo-Canadian author Rohinton Mistry, who's award-winning novel A Fine Balance was an Oprah Book Club selection, has cancelled his U.S. book tour over over-zealous security screenings.
[quote] Mr. Mistry, an native of India who came to Canada in 1975, had been scheduled to travel to six American cities this week.
"The first flight we took my wife and I, we were greeted by a ticket agent who cheerfully told us that we had been selected randomly for a special security check," he told an audience of several hundred people.
"Then it began to happen at every single stop, at every single airport. The random process took on a 100 per cent certitude."
Mr. Mistry has won the Giller Prize, was shortlisted for this year's Man Booker award, and was recommended to millions of Americans last year by Oprah Winfrey as one of her book club selections.
Full Version: Canada a freeloading nation?
Canmark, don't fret over Buchanan; he had his 15 minutes of fame back in Houston in '92 when he tore into gays. He's history now and has absolutely no influence in the GOP, let alone in national politics, other than to serve as a downlist backup speaker when the real thing has to cancel!
I'd worry more about the next screening of John Candy's great movie, "Canadian Bacon." Absolutely hilarious and a good way to spend an evening at home with the BF!
I'd worry more about the next screening of John Candy's great movie, "Canadian Bacon." Absolutely hilarious and a good way to spend an evening at home with the BF!
Pat Buchanan has got flesh eating disease of the brain Canmark. He has zero credibility with me, and should be exported to Iraq, as far as I am concerned. Viva la Canada, I say!!
I was fortunate enough to have spent 2 years in Canada as an undergraduate. The Canadian people are sophisticated, friendly, and generally well-informed.
Buchanan is an odious human being. He is a has-been.
Teo more points about Canada- they have a better health care system and are enjoying greater economic growth than we are at the present.
Buchanan is an odious human being. He is a has-been.
Teo more points about Canada- they have a better health care system and are enjoying greater economic growth than we are at the present.
I'll dissent from this lovefest.
I know you're trolling for compliments, but there are some legitimate grievances in this country with Our Neighbor to the North.
I think we can all agree that Buchanan's a loon: and not the type that appears on the flipside of the dollar coin. But if you think the USA needs to explain and defend Buchanan, then I think it's equally fair to ask Canadians to defend the vile, nasty, provincial-supported anti-Semitism at Concordia University. (Not that I think Buchanan would object to public money be expending to foment a new holocaust -- I'm sorry, "jihad" (as if there's a difference) -- in downtown Montreal.)
Buchanan has a right to his opinion, since we still have the right to free speech in this country. Even if it's a stupid opinion. And everyone is free to criticize Buchanan's bouts of imbecility.
Canadians can be prone to smug sense of superiority when comparing themselves to the USA. And Buchanan does have a valid point buried in his rant: Canadians have been sucking on the American teat for the last 50 years or so. Canadians benefitted tremendously from the U.S. defense umbrella during the Cold War. Granted, Canadians paid more of their share (sometimes in blood) than western Europe, but they still got a bit of free ride.
And don't forget that Canada's socialized medicine scheme is supported in part by the good ol' USA. Without the free enterprise system south of your border, you would not benefit from our tremendous investment in research and development in drugs and pharmaceuticals. This is where the vast bulk of advances in health care worldwide are being made. That would not happen in a purely socialized health care environment. And you get these American-made drugs cheaper than we do here, since U.S. consumers unwittingly subsidize your pharmaceuticals. In addition, there's less of an impetus to change your health care system, because the U.S. does operate as a safety valve, taking in Canadians unwilling to wait for medical treatment.
Hey, I like Canada, too. But the U.S. does have some legitimate grievances about border security to which the Chetrien government appears to be turning a deaf ear. Just as Canada reserves the right to dissent from the requests of the U.S. government, so too do those of us in the USA reserve the right to criticize Canada for those dissents.
[ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: Charlie in the Trees ]
I know you're trolling for compliments, but there are some legitimate grievances in this country with Our Neighbor to the North.
I think we can all agree that Buchanan's a loon: and not the type that appears on the flipside of the dollar coin. But if you think the USA needs to explain and defend Buchanan, then I think it's equally fair to ask Canadians to defend the vile, nasty, provincial-supported anti-Semitism at Concordia University. (Not that I think Buchanan would object to public money be expending to foment a new holocaust -- I'm sorry, "jihad" (as if there's a difference) -- in downtown Montreal.)
Buchanan has a right to his opinion, since we still have the right to free speech in this country. Even if it's a stupid opinion. And everyone is free to criticize Buchanan's bouts of imbecility.
Canadians can be prone to smug sense of superiority when comparing themselves to the USA. And Buchanan does have a valid point buried in his rant: Canadians have been sucking on the American teat for the last 50 years or so. Canadians benefitted tremendously from the U.S. defense umbrella during the Cold War. Granted, Canadians paid more of their share (sometimes in blood) than western Europe, but they still got a bit of free ride.
And don't forget that Canada's socialized medicine scheme is supported in part by the good ol' USA. Without the free enterprise system south of your border, you would not benefit from our tremendous investment in research and development in drugs and pharmaceuticals. This is where the vast bulk of advances in health care worldwide are being made. That would not happen in a purely socialized health care environment. And you get these American-made drugs cheaper than we do here, since U.S. consumers unwittingly subsidize your pharmaceuticals. In addition, there's less of an impetus to change your health care system, because the U.S. does operate as a safety valve, taking in Canadians unwilling to wait for medical treatment.
Hey, I like Canada, too. But the U.S. does have some legitimate grievances about border security to which the Chetrien government appears to be turning a deaf ear. Just as Canada reserves the right to dissent from the requests of the U.S. government, so too do those of us in the USA reserve the right to criticize Canada for those dissents.
[ November 03, 2002: Message edited by: Charlie in the Trees ]
Although not mentioned in his diatribe, I suspect Buchanan's ridiculous reference to Canada as 'Soviet Canuckistan' stems in part from his resentment of our more friendly relationship with Cuba, as if that somehow puts us in the Communist league.
Charlie, you are correct about Canada's dismal level of spending on defence, as compared to most other Western nations. I have never been a 'hawk', but it is downright embarrassing to see how poorly-equipped our armed forces are. And I don't mind the Americans urging us to do more in this area, as your Ambassador Paul Cellucci has recently stated.
There has always been an undercurrent of (non-violent) anti-American sentiment in Canada, so I find it rather amusing that many Canadians are surprised, angry and hurt when our southern neighbours criticize us. After all, everybody is supposed to love us!
Actually, I sense a growing frustration with each other on both sides of the border. We don't like the high-handed approach by US authorities regarding Canadian citizens who were born in certain other countries (as Canmark noted), and there is still anger over the US slapping prohibitive duties on softwood lumber exports, to cite just a couple of examples from this side.
As for anti-semitism at Concordia University, I assume you are referring to the protest over Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on the campus several weeks ago. It's unfortunate that things turned ugly, but I don't think the actions of a few students should be interpreted as an indication of deep anti-Jewish sentiment at Concordia, or that the province of Quebec 'supports' such behaviour.
[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Marc ]
Charlie, you are correct about Canada's dismal level of spending on defence, as compared to most other Western nations. I have never been a 'hawk', but it is downright embarrassing to see how poorly-equipped our armed forces are. And I don't mind the Americans urging us to do more in this area, as your Ambassador Paul Cellucci has recently stated.
There has always been an undercurrent of (non-violent) anti-American sentiment in Canada, so I find it rather amusing that many Canadians are surprised, angry and hurt when our southern neighbours criticize us. After all, everybody is supposed to love us!
Actually, I sense a growing frustration with each other on both sides of the border. We don't like the high-handed approach by US authorities regarding Canadian citizens who were born in certain other countries (as Canmark noted), and there is still anger over the US slapping prohibitive duties on softwood lumber exports, to cite just a couple of examples from this side.
As for anti-semitism at Concordia University, I assume you are referring to the protest over Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on the campus several weeks ago. It's unfortunate that things turned ugly, but I don't think the actions of a few students should be interpreted as an indication of deep anti-Jewish sentiment at Concordia, or that the province of Quebec 'supports' such behaviour.
[ November 04, 2002: Message edited by: Marc ]
W. would certainly get more support from Canada on defense and other issues if he actually made more overtures to our largest trading partner and sister nation. However, shortly after 9/11, in listing our "friends," Bush (accidentally?) left Canada and Chrétien off the list.
Buchanan is a total extremist crackpot (who worked for Nixon, Ford and Reagan, don't forget) and should (not) be taken seriously. Has anyone read or viewed his new magazine, which is being funded by Taki, a notorious character in his own right?
Buchanan is a total extremist crackpot (who worked for Nixon, Ford and Reagan, don't forget) and should (not) be taken seriously. Has anyone read or viewed his new magazine, which is being funded by Taki, a notorious character in his own right?
Yes, Canmark, Buchanan's a crank, and yes, you Canucks & Newfies are a bunch of freeloaders. But don't fret, you're in good company: the Canadians, French, Germans, Spanish, Japanese, Dutch, Danes, and the Belgians. Yes, even the Belgians. Stop laughing.
All of which reminds me of a great line I recently read about Canada. Sorry but I don't know the source. It goes: Canada could have had British government, French culture and American ingenuity. Instead, it got French government, British ingenuity and American culture.
Anyhoo, if a plane crashes into the CN Tower, or a bomb goes off in the Molson center during a Canadiens game, don't worry. You can come, ski cap in hand, begging help of your friends down here, and your royal colonialist overlords, the British.
We're dumb as a box of rocks, but good-hearted.
All of which reminds me of a great line I recently read about Canada. Sorry but I don't know the source. It goes: Canada could have had British government, French culture and American ingenuity. Instead, it got French government, British ingenuity and American culture.
Anyhoo, if a plane crashes into the CN Tower, or a bomb goes off in the Molson center during a Canadiens game, don't worry. You can come, ski cap in hand, begging help of your friends down here, and your royal colonialist overlords, the British.
We're dumb as a box of rocks, but good-hearted.
[quote]Originally posted by canmark:
Buchanan calls Canada a 'freeloading nation'
Random my ass! i totally understand. I got checked nearly every single time. The only time I didn't get checked was in California. They could have atleast let me up in front of the line after they checked me!
Buchanan calls Canada a 'freeloading nation'
Random my ass! i totally understand. I got checked nearly every single time. The only time I didn't get checked was in California. They could have atleast let me up in front of the line after they checked me!
you know, I had been searching for sooooo long to see that commercial up here on the CBC when it came out a while back but I never saw it.
Thanks for posting....a great rant!
Thanks for posting....a great rant!
I'm amazed that a commercial that's at least two years old is posted to a thread that hasn't been touched in over three years. wink
QUOTE
Charlie in the Trees:
Canadians can be prone to smug sense of superiority when comparing themselves to the USA.
Im curious to know how much time you've spent in Canada. Im lucky enough to have been there a great deal and I dont find your statement to be even remotely true. Canadians can be prone to smug sense of superiority when comparing themselves to the USA.
Oh, Buchanan is an idiot.
QUOTE
RazorbackTX:
Oh, Buchanan is an idiot.
I dated a Canadian ex-pat and I routinely post to a Canadian-based bulletin board and I tend to agree with Charlie. I haven't met a single CanadianI didn't like, so don't get me wrong, but my experience is that Canadians can quickly play the moral superiority card during any discussion about our two countries. To be fair, though, Americans play the "we're bigger, stronger, better" card all the time.QUOTE
Charlie in the Trees:
Canadians can be prone to smug sense of superiority when comparing themselves to the USA.
Im curious to know how much time you've spent in Canada. Im lucky enough to have been there a great deal and I dont find your statement to be even remotely true. Canadians can be prone to smug sense of superiority when comparing themselves to the USA.
Oh, Buchanan is an idiot.
I also disgree that Buchanan is an idiot. He's occasionally delusional, but he's smart.
Jeez guys - this is a three year old thread.
Buchanan is a delusional ass.
I deal with Canadians all the time, spend quite a bit of time there, and have many Canadian aquaintances. I have never found them to be anything but extremely friendly, gracious, generous to a fault, and very accomodating.
I think the average Canadian has a better 'world view' - IMO - than the average American. They are certainly more open to outside cultures.
If anything I would have thought that they might sometimes have an inferiority complex because big brother to the south so dominates the stage.
R
Buchanan is a delusional ass.
I deal with Canadians all the time, spend quite a bit of time there, and have many Canadian aquaintances. I have never found them to be anything but extremely friendly, gracious, generous to a fault, and very accomodating.
I think the average Canadian has a better 'world view' - IMO - than the average American. They are certainly more open to outside cultures.
If anything I would have thought that they might sometimes have an inferiority complex because big brother to the south so dominates the stage.
R
An Open Letter to Citizens of Canada:
Dear Canadians,
We really do like you. Please do not listen to the idiots currently running our nation into the ground, especially if they claim to be a preacher, or a man of God. We were hijacked by their lunicy back in the year 2000, when the first of two hijacked elections occured. You see, the crooked elections allowed these loons to get into office and spew their hatred and start wars for no particular reason. Worry not, if the current liars in office don't get us all killed in a nuclear war, everything will be fine come November, 2008. Even the folks who were hoodwinked by the current liar administration are coming out of their coma, which bodes well for the next election in 2008. Until then, just laugh off any stupid comment made by our alleged leaders.
Sincerely,
America
Dear Canadians,
We really do like you. Please do not listen to the idiots currently running our nation into the ground, especially if they claim to be a preacher, or a man of God. We were hijacked by their lunicy back in the year 2000, when the first of two hijacked elections occured. You see, the crooked elections allowed these loons to get into office and spew their hatred and start wars for no particular reason. Worry not, if the current liars in office don't get us all killed in a nuclear war, everything will be fine come November, 2008. Even the folks who were hoodwinked by the current liar administration are coming out of their coma, which bodes well for the next election in 2008. Until then, just laugh off any stupid comment made by our alleged leaders.
Sincerely,
America
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